Ankylosing Spondylitis Claims Solicitors
People who suffer from Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) are forced to adapt to a new way of life that can be physically, emotionally and financially challenging. Many people are under the belief that accepting their condition means giving up on different aspects of their lives. That is not the case. It is about managing the condition and following specific treatment programmes.
No Win No Fee AS Claims
- Speak to a qualified Solicitor within 24 of the initial enquiry (working hours and excluding office closures)
- Transferring your claim to Brian Barr is easy and hassle-free
- Highest value compensation settlements
- Solicitors who specialise in Ankylosing Spondylitis compensation
With over 60 years combined experience in dealing in AS claims and being one of the leading solicitors in Manchester with experience in handling successful claims. We bring an unmatched degree of expertise and the highest standard of service to those seeking justice and compensation where it is possible to show that traumatic injury or medical negligence has triggered Ankylosing Spondylitis.
We find that most claims involve employers or medical experts who have acted negligently. You could be eligible to make a claim for compensation if your employer has failed to provide you with the relevant equipment, support and correct training. Medical experts are deemed to be negligent through misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis which means you could also claim for compensation.
Brian Barr Solicitors are specialists in helping clients make Ankylosing Spondylitis claims. We take into account that being diagnosed with AS is life changing. That is why our highly qualified solicitors will ensure that your Ankylosing Spondylitis compensation claim has the best chance of success because we have the competence and professional experience required to do so.
What is Ankylosing Spondylitis?
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is an arthritic disease which mainly causes spine inflammation. It can also affect other joints, tendons, ligaments and additional areas such as the eyes and heart. One significant factor of AS is that it causes some of the bones in the spine to fuse. This fusing makes the spine less flexible and can have detrimental effects on posture. In instances where ribs are affected, difficulty breathing is common.
AS is mostly common in men and usually starts early adulthood. As it is a chronic condition with no known cure, people with AS can only manage the problem using treatments such as physiotherapy and medication to alleviate symptoms.
If you are suffering from ankylosing spondylitis as a result of negligence and even if you have an existing claim, get in touch with us to see if we can assist. If you are thinking of moving your claim, it is free to move your claim to Brian Barr Solicitors, who are experts in dealing with chronic pain litigation. Call us today to find out more.
What causes Ankylosing Spondylitis?
Although it is known to be caused by genetics, ankylosing spondylitis has no specific and known cause. Most people who have the gene HLA-B27 will not develop ankylosing spondylitis. However, some people with the gene will develop the condition.
Some sufferers can trace the start of their symptoms back to a specific accident or injury.
Traumatic Accident
A traumatic accident can worsen certain pre-existing health conditions and can be the root cause of a declining spine. Traumatic accidents such as a car accident may not always cause spondylosis or spondylitis, people struggling with the condition are much more likely to suffer a severe back injury in an accident. It is not uncommon for people to be completely unaware that they have AS until they are injured in an accident and their condition is aggravated.
Due to the nature of the condition, patients with AS are more likely to sustain serious injuries and experience complications. The progression of the condition itself can lead to much more severe outcomes. For instance, as a result of the bone fusion, the spines of these individuals are no longer flexible thus, reducing their ability to absorb the shock of force from sudden jarring movements in the cervical spinal column. This issue inhibits their ability to handle cervical strain.
Medical Negligence
If complications arise but are poorly managed by medical practitioners, the end result will be severe. It is also true if medical practitioners fail to diagnose a patient with AS, despite the patients repeatedly seeking medical attention. This is because the disease will progress when it could have been mitigated, causing the patient undue harm.
Unfortunately, many cases of medical negligence go undetected, simply due to the complex nature of health care and the fact that so few people have a full understanding of how their medical care should be rendered.
If you believe that your care could have been better, and this led to injury that should have been avoided, then your care might have been inadequate. If negligence had been involved, there may be grounds for compensation.
Contact us today and speak to our experienced lawyers to discuss your case and find out how much compensation you could get.
How do I make an Ankylosing Spondylitis Claim?
A successful ankylosing spondylitis claim will not by itself make up for the mental anguish that you have endured, but it can be pivotal to ensuring you get the support you need. The compensation you will receive will not only compensate you for your suffering, but also cover any medical and wellness needs, lost income, and adaptive equipment needs.
In order to make a valid AS claim, you need to be able to demonstrate that your condition has progressed or worsened as a direct result of the negligence or error of a third party.
This could be highlighted by an incorrect medical treatment being administered leading to medical negligence, an accident, or many other circumstances.
With our specialised ankylosing spondylitis solicitors, we provide you with a hands-on service through the claim process. Our solicitors will work to gather evidence and obtain expert medical reports, file a claim on your behalf, and support you during a court case if necessary. We always try to settle your case outside of court, keeping the stress and associated costs at a minimum. Contact us today to find out how much compensation you could get for your ankylosing spondylitis claim, through a no-obligation, free consultation with an expert.
Can I claim disability for Ankylosing Spondylitis?
Typically, the claim for Ankylosing Spondylitis is generally disability-oriented. Depending on your condition’s severity, you may be entitled to partial or total disability claim. You can claim disability for Ankylosing Spondylitis through Personal Independence Payment ( PIP) which can assist with extra living costs. To claim disability, you must prove that you have had your existing level of requirements for at least three months and be likely to continue having them for a further nine months. In order to begin your claim for disability, you will need to:
- Call the PIP claims line
- Request a DS1500 form from a medical professional so that they can fill it out and give it you or they can send it directly to the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP)
- If you already claim Universal Credit, then simply sign into your online account and use your journal to state that you have sent a DS1500 form to DWP.
In most cases where the AS is not permanent or the condition is treatable, a person may file for temporary disability compensation while undergoing treatment.
Contact our Ankylosing Spondylitis Solicitors
Ankylosing spondylitis can be life changing for both you and your family and you will need this compensation to help you. Due to our renowned understanding of Ankylosing Spondylitis, clients have moved to Brian Barr Solicitors to help with their claim.
During the process, we will consider your individual situation and the additional support you may require in your future. We take into account your present and future loss of income, treatment and rehabilitation costs, adapting to a new lifestyle and as well as compensation for the pain and suffering.
To start your claim, simply contact our specialist lawyers today or complete the form below and we will be in touch shortly.
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Frequently Asked Questions
A diagnosis of Ankylosing Spondylitis can usually be confirmed if an X-ray displays inflammation of the sacroiliac joints and you have at least 1 of the following:
- Lower back pain that improves with exercise and does not improve with rest for greater than 3 months
- Limited movement in your lower back
- Reduced chest expansion compared with what is expected for your age and sex
As there is no cure for Ankylosing Spondylitis, treatment options are available to relieve some of the symptoms. Furthermore, treatment can delay the process of spinal fusion and stiffening. In most cases, treatment requires a combination of exercise, physiotherapy, and medicine.
Physiotherapy & Exercise
Being active can improve one’s posture and range of spinal coordination, along with preventing the spine from becoming too stiff and painful. In addition, physiotherapy is fundamental in treating Ankylosing Spondylitis. A physiotherapist will advise a patient about the most effective exercise and outline a strategic exercising program that suits you. Some physiotherapists recommend the following programmes:
- Individual exercise programme
- Group exercise programme
- Hydrotherapy (exercising in water)
Medicine
Following your referral to a rheumatologist, you may need painkillers to manage your condition while you are awaiting an appointment, but some people do not have continual pain.
Often, the first type of painkiller prescribed is a non-steroidal anti inflammatory drug (NSAID). These medicines are predominately used for pain relief, reduce inflammation, and manage fevers. Examples of NSAID include:
- Ibuprofen
- Naproxen
- Diclofenac
- Etoricoxib
In the event that NSAIDs are not suitable, alternative painkillers such as paracetamols may be recommended which rarely cause side effects.
Depending on the severity of the pain, patients may be prescribed a stronger painkiller such as Codeine which carry side effect such as:
- Drowsiness
- Being/Feeling indisposed
- Constipation
If symptoms cannot be regulated by NSAIDs or physiotherapy/exercise, anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) may be administered. TNF is a compound/substance produced by cells when there is tissue inflammation. TNF inhibitors are injected and function by stopping the results of TNF, as well as reducing the inflammation in your joints caused by ankylosing spondylitis.
Generally, your rheumatologist will discuss a plan of action and weigh out your options. Should symptoms continue to worsen or fail to improve significantly after taking anti-TNF drugs for at least 3 months, the treatment will be discontinued. You may be offered a different anti-TNF medicine.
The symptoms for Ankylosing Spondylitis usually develop at a slow rate over several months or years. The symptoms can sometimes be sporadic and improve or deteriorate over many years.
Some common symptoms of AS include the following:
- Back pain & Stiffness are usually the first sign of Ankylosing Spondylitis. Patients find that the pain gets better when they exercise or does not improve/worsens when resting. Some even experience pain around the buttocks areas.
- Arthritis causes inflammation of the joints in other parts of one’s body such as hips and knees. Pain, swelling and tenderness of the affected joints or areas are associated symptoms.
- Enthesitis is a painful inflammation of the attachment between joints and tendons
- Fatigue makes people feel tired and lacking in energy
The process of filing a claim against a business can be both frustrating and difficult. Victims who are seeking compensation must demonstrate that the company failed to provide adequate measures to prevent their injuries or illness. These claims often arise in the context of the workplace, where employees are required to repetitively lift products or materials. If the company did not communicate any possible health risks involved from prolonged and repetitive strains to the back and did not implement any safety measures to reduce such a strain on the back, you might have grounds for a claim.
Although generally not recommended by doctors as part of treatment for ankylosing spondylitis, a chiropractor may well be able to provide strategies that could help. Chiropractic care is a complementary medical practice that focuses on diagnosing and treating problems of the musculoskeletal system, particularly the spine.
Spinal manipulation by chiropractor care might seem logical but doctors may not challenge that notion because the spine can fuse in people with Ankylosing Spondylitis.
Transferring to our solicitors is an easy and hassle-free process. Our solicitors are a law firm that specialises in Chronic Pain Claims and has years of experience dealing with Ankylosing Spondylitis claim. It is likely that your current lawyer has no relationship with medical experts or other medical professionals who could help you to establish the true extent of your pain as well as a realistic claim settlement figure.
You are under no obligation to stay with your current solicitor and are entitled to switch your solicitors for whatever reason you wish whether you are unhappy with their service or feel that you are not going to get the compensation that you deserve. Give us a call today to discuss your case and claim.
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